<p>For the Why do you wanna go to this college essay, is it recommended that I talk about the college? Is it OK if I talk about myself, and maybe who/what I want to become, and then maybe at the last sentence or something state that at this college I believe it will be best at helping me achieve this etc?</p>
<p>You want to show why you think this specific school is such a great fit for you, academically or personally or both. It should be something that shows them you know the school and what it offers you (not just its rep or its mission statement,) have considered and can see yourself thriving there. It can be a bit casual, but don’t make it too generic- adcoms spot that fast. Eg, not I want to be a doctor and want the best pre-med education, blah, blah and this is one of the best.</p>
<p>I am wondering how to tackle these questions, as well. As I feel -for example- UPenn admissions see enough about Benjamin Franklin…</p>
<p>In terms of addressing the school, what else can we go off of when answering “why college X” besides what we gather from their websites and our college tours (where we get the most generic, mission statement-y spiel)? I have certainly had “The Feeling” during a couple of the college visits due mainly from impressions of the student tour guide, attitudes of students walking around the school that day, and physical school environment. Not a terribly convincing reply to “Why do you want to go our college and only our college?”?</p>
<p>Also, what is a good length for these essays?</p>
<p>Thanks for any reply (and sorry harvardhottie for borrowing your thread).</p>
<p>^ see, you didn’t really choose UPenn because of Ben Franklin, so why write about him? There’s no right answer. Some less impressive ideas- I wanna go to your school because: I like the architecture, I hear the food is great, you’re number one (even for schools other than H,) ever since I was little, I dreamed of going to X, etc. You get the idea. Relate something you do know about the school to you- if nothing stands out, go find something. It’s a small test- they want to know you know them well enough to truly see yourself there, beyond superficials.</p>
<p>Thanks lf. Are you able to insight-fully contribute to the question of length, as well? A general word count would be superbly quantitative.</p>
<p>wow great thread. should this be like an anecdotal response or more written in a more serious manner?</p>
<p>lookingforward! please grace us with your verbal presence once again</p>
<p>hmmm but I’m still wondering if it’s ok to MAINLY talk about yourself and how you feel you can best grow at that school etc. But as the 2nd poster stated, will they know its pretty generic and can be copied to another why x college essay? its so hard to think of why you want to go to that college without using the cliches ><</p>
<p>How can you MAINLY talk about yourself - when they are asking " Why X college". Of course - you could say - These are the things that i want to accomplish and how X college is the best fit to accomplish my goals.</p>
<p>ok. It can be anecdotal- some kids talk of meeting up with others from their cultural background. Some might mention that a hs teacher went there and how he/she described the school. Some note maybe the research opps or diversity or having read something by a particular prof that inspired them to look at the school. Depending on the college, it can be a casual question- but they want to see you know them, have some “feel” for them, you’ve thought about it. Whatever you write, just be sure it is right for that school. Sometimes, kids write so enthusiastically about some oportunity that doesn’t exist at that college! Eg, everyone knows the Ivies have cold winters. So why did that guy write about how he could play golf year-round???</p>
<p>-Some answers can be quite serious. Depends on you, the reasons, etc.</p>
<p>HH- instead of thinking of this as how you can grow there, why not just think about how you know you fit there? Get a little excited about the school. Try that, to see if it helps release ideas. Why do you like H? The rep? That would seem shallow. The “whatever” program or policy? Well, what about it? </p>
<p>Each college can word the question in its own way- but, usually, they are not asking you “Why is Harvard such a great school?” They are asking why you feel it is right for you. Don’t know word limits for this fall- Penn, eg, doesn’t release the supp til, I think, 9/1. Good luck.</p>
<p>@ LF Once more, sorry! I should have made clear that I was asking for supplements that don’t dictate a word count limit (like UChicago)…</p>
<p>@looking forward: oh I see thanks 
but the reasons I’m excited for that school is because of things other people will probably say. how do i stand out for the other applicants?</p>
<p>You personalize it. Maybe tie it to your experiences to-date. The Why Us? has no rigid formula, (so I don’t want to say anything that could take away a reader’s own ideas) but it has to feel like you know “why.” Want to give me a hint via pm?</p>
<p>A couple of suggestions. First, the college doesn’t need compliments, and they make you look like a prestige hound, anyway. So don’t talk about how wonderful the school is and how much you love it.
Instead, write an essay with specifics about why it makes sense for you to want to go to that particular school, and why it makes sense for that school to want to have you there–in other words, what it has to offer you, and what you have to offer it.</p>
<p>So, for example, if the school is noted for a particular major that interests you, mention that. If it’s a good place for a particular extracurricular that you do–mention that.</p>
<p>Just as an example, if you are applying to Columbia, you might want to make sure you understand the core curriculum, and explain how that meshes with your interests and your learning style. On the other hand, if it’s Brown, explain why the open curriculum meshes with your self-directed approach to learning.</p>
<p>In my opinion, saying that you always wanted to go there since you were a small child sounds pathetic, but others might disagree.</p>
<p>Hunt is right on. Do NOT compliment them on their lovely campus, great location, proximity to a fun / happening city, smart professors, presence of other smart students. They know they have these things. Columbia knows it’s in the vibrant city of New York and Dartmouth knows it’s in a bucolic location and blah blah blah. </p>
<p>And colleges don’t care how badly you want to go there. They aren’t interested in fulfilling your dreams. It’s about them, and who THEY want to select. </p>
<p>The trick is really to answer a slightly different question - what is it about you and your interests and talents and approach and style to life / studies / extracurriculars that would really mesh well and bring something to the landscape of the College X experience.</p>
<p>thank you for the replies lf, hunt and pg!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, i think i know what to do now :D</p>